Immunization of health care workers
In many countries health care workers are required by law to be immunized before even starting a medical related school program. Dental profession is not an exception of vaccination. Every oral heath professional including here: Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants have to be vaccinated with specific vaccines recommended by country’s public health service. Immunization serves as a protective measure for both public and oral health care workers. Immunization for specific disease like diphtheria or pertussis is normally not required because the vaccine for these diseases has normally been administered since childhood, whereas other vaccinations (tetanus) require booster shots so titer levels can stay high. Immunization for dental workers
-Hepatitis B
Vaccination is recommended for anyone older then one year and 4 months old. Contraindicated to people with anaphylactic reaction because it can cause allergic reaction. First two doses are taken four weeks apart and the third dose five months after the second shot. No major complications after the administrations have been noted.when blood titer is low a booster is recommended. This could be identified by periodic blood examination.
-Poliomyelitis
Vaccine is taken orally and is called OPV vaccine because it’s an attenuated virus. Two doses each 8 weeks apart and a third one after 8-9 months period are required for administration. All ages are recommended for immunization. Contraindication to Polio vaccine includes people that are allergic to neomycin. A booster may be required if the dental practitioner has been in contact with oral secretions of a person who is diagnosed with poliomyelitis.
-Influenza
Influenza vaccine has to be taken annually or seasonally because the virulence of the virus periodically changes and the vaccine has to be formulated again after the virus identification. Contraindicated to people that are allergic to eggs (rarely hypersensitive).
-Tetanus and Diphtheria
Tetanus requires boosters every ten years. Both require two doses (4-7 weeks apart) then a third one after 7-12 months. Vaccine can cause hypersensitivity if boosters are taken more often then required. Contraindicated in pregnant patients and
-Rubella
It is a virus and it is associated with birth defects in pregnant women. Vaccine is administered at any age. Just one dose is necessary. Contraindicated to pregnant women because vaccine can infect the fetus since the immune system is not strong enough to control a life attenuated virus. No pregnancy recommended after vaccination for at least three months. Once in life vaccine, no boosters necessary.
-Rubella
Live virus vaccine used in one dose. Contraindicated to pregnant women and immune compromised patients. Some patients that take this vaccine can experience rash and attenuated symptoms of measles . No boosters
-Mumps
People that were born before 1956 are considered to be immune to mumps. Given in early childhood combined with measles and rubella live virus in just one dose. Contraindicated in people with hypersensitivity to neomycin and pregnant women. Adverse reactions are rare and include sort throat fever headache.
-Tuberculosis TB
There are two different types of TB tests:
1-Tb tine test – usually used in infants and children for screening purposes and its not accurate.
2- Tb Mantoux test- Consists of an injection of purified protein under the skin. A positive TB patient is likely to develop a red raised wheal of more then 10 mm. A positive test indicates the presence of the Tb bacterium but a skin test can not tell if the bacterium is actually active. Statistics researchers have found that approximately 10-15 % of the patients with positive skin test develop active TB during their life.
